U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Panamanian National Sentenced for False Statement in a Passport Application and Reentry of Removed Alien
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that CAROL JOHN, a/k/a INES ISABEL RUIZ, a/k/a CAROL ATKINS (JOHN), age 56, a citizen of Panama, was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to a two-count Indictment for making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport and reentry of a removed alien.
U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced JOHN to time served. JOHN was also sentenced to 2 years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment. JOHN will be surrendered to the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.
According to court records, on or about March 4, 2016, JOHN submitted a false passport application using a fraudulent birth certificate. Further, JOHN was found in the United States after having been officially deported. She was ordered removed and deported on or about May 24, 1996, after having been convicted of a felony drug offense.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the United States Diplomatic Security Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González was in charge of the prosecution.
Updated December 7, 2016
Topic
Immigration
Component